Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

Acts 16:26 (NIV)

We took one family vacation to visit my brother in San Francisco, California. While we were there, we toured some of the famous attractions. One is the Alcatraz prison. It was unimaginable what it must have been like to live there on this secluded island. The despair and hopelessness must have captured the prisoners’ minds back when it was an active prison.

However, Paul and Silas did not feel despair or hopelessness while in prison. They started “praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening to them” (vs 25).

Because of Paul and Silas’ great faith in God, all the prisoners could witness God’s power. The light of hope radiated from the prison cell.

Is there any issue or situation that is keeping you in bondage? Pray and sing to Jesus; there is power in His name! He can pull you out of the darkness. 1 John reminds us, “God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all” (1:5). Paul would experience prison many more times. However, he was never in despair because he tells us, “God’s word is never chained” (2 Timothy 2:9).

There is power in the name of Jesus because Jesus has overcome death. When we put our faith in Him, we have freedom because “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Satan may tempt you to put the chains back on, but if you are a believer in Jesus, those chains will never be locked–Christ has set you free!

Dear God Almighty, Thank You for being capable of breaking every chain. Help us to be a witness of Your goodness as we walk through challenging situations knowing that perhaps others are “listening” to us, and therefore seeing Your great power.

Charity O